Clear-vision windshield for vehicles



W. DE F, CROWELL. CLEAR VISION WINDSHIELD FOR VEHICLES.

FILED MAY 10, I920.

' //v VIN/T077 W/u MM azf (from/[4 ,4,

. To all who m it'may concern:

erally lfatented cc. 26, 1922.

STATE WILLIAM 15E ncnownm, or s'rf'tours, mrssounr.

' onnaavrsron win nsnrntn r'on vnmcnns.

Application filed Maya), 1920. swarm: 380,283.

Be it known that I, WILLIAM on F. CROW- ELL, a citizen of the United.States, residing .at St. Louis, Missouri, have invented a certain newand useful Improvement in Clear-Vision Windshields" for Vehicles, ofwhich the following is a full, clear, and exact description, such aswill enable others skilled inthe art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

This invention relates to clear vision wind a clear v1sion wind shieldof the downdraft type which is equipped with a novel means for creatinga downward circulation of air in proximity to the clear vision slot ofthe shield.

Another object is to provide an eflicient clear vision wind shield ofsimple construction that can be applied easily to various kinds ofvehicles, such asautomobiles, street cars, etc.

To this end I have devised a wind shield that comprises a topmember anda bottom member arranged or capable of being arranged in such a positionwith relation to each other that a transversely-disposed clear visionslotis formed between the adjacent horizontal edges of said members, andan air deflector arranged or capable of being arranged in front of saidbottom member in such a position that the forward move ment of thevehicle on which the wind shield is used will create a suction orpartial vacuum at the rear side of said air deflector of suflicientintensity to suck air, dust. rain or the like downwardly and latawayfrom the clear vision slot of the shield, thereby providing anunobstructed view for the operator of the vehicle in inclement weatherwithout liability of rain, dust, etc, blowing into the vehicle. It isessential that the top member of the shield be so disposed with relationto the bottom member and the air deflector that the lower edge of saidtop member terminates above the upper edges of said bottom member andair deflector and at a point intermediate said parts, and it is alsoessential air which strikes the front side of said air deflector andthat escapes laterally at the ends of said deflector and downwardly fromthe lower edge of said deflector. The various membersor parts of theshield above referred to can be constructed in various ways; they can bedisposed at various an-f gles or in various planes and-they can bestationary or adjustably mounted. I prefer to construct the shield sothat the bottom member and the air deflector can be used to form a wallthat serves as a closure for the front of the vehicle orcompartment onwhich the shieldis used as claimed broadly in my pendin applicationSerial No. 380,282,, filed 10, '1920, and the top member can be used asa sun shade or a rain visor to prevent rain from beating onto the upperportion of said wall.

Figure 1 of the draw' s is a front elevational View of a wind s ieldconstructed in accordance with my present invention.

F1gure 2 1s a; vertical sectional view of said shield, illustrating thebottom member and the air deflector arranged in position to form aclosure for the front of the vehicle; and

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view, illustratlng the various membersof the shield -in the positions they occupy When the clear -When.theclear vision slot of the shield is in use the members A, B and C occupythe positions shown in Figure 3, namely, the air deflector C is arrangedsome distance in advance of the bottom member B and the top member A isso arranged with relation to the members B and C that the lower edge ofsaid top member terminates intermediate the members B and C and farenough above the upper edges of said members B and C to form ahorizontally-disposed clear vision slot that provides an unobstructedview for the operator in charge of the vehicle. The air deflector C ispreferably arranged in a forwardly-inclined position, and when the windshield is used on an automobile, as herein illustrated, the airdeflector C is arranged high enough above the cowl l of the automobileto permit air to escape down wardly from the space between the members Band C. The space between said members 25 clear vision slot of theshield.

B and C is also open at its ends so as to permit air to circulatelaterally through said space and escape at .the ends of same. When thevehicle is traveling forwardly the air that strikes the frontsideof theair deflector C- escapes laterally at the ends of saiddeflector" andalso downwardlyat' the lower edge of said defiector,1th'e air thatescapes at the ends of the defieetor Crushing rearwardly past the openendsof the space behind said deflector, thus tending to suck air outthrough the ends of said space, and the air that is deflected downwardlyby the member 0 against 'theportion of the front 1 of the vehiclearranged below the member B tending to suck the air downwardly from thespace at the rear side of the member 0.

The result is, that a circulation is created in the space between themembers B and C,

downwardly and also laterally towards the ends of said space, asindicated by the arrows in thedrawings. This circulation produces asuction at the rear side of the member (1 of sufficient intensity toprevent dust, rain or the like from blowing inwardly through the *In theform of my invention herein illustrated the -bottom member B of theshield is revolubly-mounted on a supporting structure which may beformed by the side posts 2 of the vehicle, and the air deflectorCiscar-f ried by pivotally mounted arms 3- that can be swung forwardlinto the "positionshown Eigure3 when t eclear visionslotof the shieldis: in use,-'or rearwardly into theposia 1 tion shown in Figure 2, so asto arrange the memberCin substantially parallelrelation to thesideposts2.; The member B is mount- "ed in bearings 2 on the side posts 2 insucha manner. thatsaid member can be revolved upwardlyfrom the osition shownin p Fxiinre 1 into the position 8 own in Figure 2.. 1 n en the members113 "and C. are arranged in the'po- .sition' shown-m, Figure-2 theyforate closure or f protecting wall for. the;

frontof thevehicle. .When the clearvision," I slot. of theshield-is notin use, thetop mem ber A of the shield can be swung upwardly I" witheach other to'form a, solid or imperinto the position shown in Figure:2, so as i to serve as a rain-visoror asv a sunshade,

. I in case the member A-i's formedof opaque f 4 material. The topmember A of the shield herein illustrated is pivotally connected at itsupper edge to a cross piece that extends betweenthe side osts 2 of thevehicle, and

means of any pre erred-form is provided-for holding the top member -A.inadjustedzposttion, such", for example, as curved arms 4' on the member A,that project rearwardly through guides '5 on the side posts equippedwith thumb screws or other suitable clanipiii-g devices 6. [The airdeflector C of the.

shield is also provided'with rearwardl -projecti-ng arms ,7

co-operate';

that pass through gi'udes .3.

on the slide posts equipped with clamping de vices 9. 'If desired,theair deflector G can be provided at-its ends with laterally-pro-:jject ng extensions 12, soi as to'increase' the gfsuctionf'producedfat.the rear-side efflthe fmemberC by the air'wh-ich escapes rearf wardly atthe ends'of said-member. I wishii: to be understood, however,- that; itis immaterial, sofah'asmy invention' is. COI1-."

cerned, what means is employed for adjustmembers in adjusted position,and it 1s also immaterial whether the member 'Afisformed ll 1. of opaqueor'trans arent material. Prefer-;. ably, the member. edge with, a gutter10 soasto collect and I is provided at'iits lower carry away any 'waterthat drains down the front s1de of said'member, and collapsible sideclosures -11,* preferably' consisting of pieces of fabric provided withaccordian pleats, are connected to the ends of the mem v ing the members'A "and C and holding said ber A and to the side posts 2, so as torevent rain. from beating inwardly aroundt e ends of the member a I l Aclear vision wind shield of the construction above described isadmirably adapted for use on street cars'and various other kinds ofvehicles, and also-on an automobile pro-f vlded with a relatively lowand narrow cowl,

iseof a down-draft to carry rain, dustand the, like awa from theclearvision slot of due to the factthat such vehicles permit the theshield. y improved shield is highly;

manufactured at a low cost and applied easily, and in addition toproviding anvun obstructed View for-the operator in charge .efiicient,owing to thefact that the sue-= tlion at the rears'ideof the airdeflector."- C is created by. a 'circulatio'n laterally. and -jdownwardly in'thespace of the rear. side of said air deflector, theshield can be of the vehicle in inclement weather, it 611- ters Patent,is H fables "the front of the vehicle to beflcom fl s letely closed whentheclear vision slotjis not muse.

Having thus describedmy'inventiomwhat' claim as new and desire tosecurefby-"Letdeflector in such a position with relation from the bottomedge-and from the .ends

to said bottom member and with relation to the vehlcle on which the windshieldis mounted that 'air will escape rearwardly 125 v of said. airdeflector and thus produce. a

downward and lateral circulation of air in the space behind said airdeflector ofisufliclentmtensityto. prevent rain, dust, air and the likefrom blowing inwardly into the vehicle over the top edge of said bottommember, the space between said bottom member and air deflector beingopen at its lower side and at its ends.

2. A wind shield for vehicles, comprising a top member and a bottommember arranged in such a position with relation to each other that aclear vision slot is formed between said members, an air deflectoradapted to be arranged in front of said bottom member so as to form aspace open at its lower side and at its ends through which aircirculates downwardly and laterally! when the vehicle is travelingforwardly, and means for enabling said air deflector and bottom memberto be arranged in substantially parallel relation, one higher than theother, so as to form a closure for the front of the vehicle.

3. A wind shield for vehicles, comprising a bottom member, aforwardly-inclined air deflector arranged in advance of said bottommember and combined with same in such a way as to form a space open atits lower side and at its ends. through which air is sucked downwardlyand laterally by the suction created at the rear sidev of said deflectorby the air which strikes the front side of same when the vehicle istraveling forwardly, an adjustable top member, and means for enablingsaid air deflector and bottom member to be arranged in substantiallyparallel relation, one higher than the other, so as to form a closurefor the front comprislng a supporting structure, a plvotof the vehicle.

4. A clear vision'wind shield for vehicles, comprising a revolublebottom member, a top member that co-operates with said bottom member toform a clear vision slot, an air deflector arranged in advance of saidbottom member and combined with same in such a way as to form a spaceopen at its lower side andat its ends through which air circulatesdownwardly and laterally at the front side of said bottom member, andmeans for enabling said air deflector to be retracted and held insubstantially parallel relation with said bottom member when the clearvision slot of the shield is not in use.

5. A clear vision wind shield for vehicles, comprising a revolublebottom'member, a top member, a transversely-disposed air deflectorarranged in. advance of said bottom member when the clear vision slot isin use, said bottom member being adapted to be moved upwardly into aposition at the rear ofsaid I top member when the clear vision slot ofthe shield is not 1n use, and pivotally mounted arms that carry said airdeflector and which maintain it in such a position when the clear visionslot is in use that the air which strikes the front side of saiddeflector will escape rearwardly from the bottom edge and from the endsof said deflector'and thus create a downward circulation at the rearside of said deflector, the space between said bottom member anddeflector being open at its lower side and at its ends.

-6. A clear vision wind shield, compris ing a supporting structure, atop member, a bottom member revolubly mounted on said supportingstructure and adapted to be arranged either in a lower horizontal planethan said top member or in an elevated position behind said top member,and an adjustable air deflector that is adapted to be arranged withinthe plane of said supporting structure in substantially parallelrelation to said bottom member or in a posit1on in advance of saidbottom member so as to form an air circulating space between said bottommember and air deflector which is open at both ends and at its lowerside.

7 A clear vision wind shield for vehicles,

ally mounted-top member on said supporting structure that projectsforwardly and downwardly from same when the clear vision slot of theshield is in use, a bottom member revolubly mounted on said supportingstructure, an air deflector that is arrangedin a forwardly-inclinedposition in front'of saidbottom member. when the clear vision slot ofthe shield is in use, the space

